students of jesus

I'm thrilled to present a guest-post from my good friend Andrea Giordano.

Saul of Tarsus first encountered Jesus in a dramatic fashion. A light flashed all around him, and he fell to the ground with a thud. Then, he heard a voice that he did not recognize. It called to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 

Shocked and confounded, Saul called back, "Who are you, Lord?" 

The voice resounded again, "I am Jesus." 

Though Saul had spent his life in the Scriptures, he still was unaware of what God sounded like. Can you imagine that? You believe you’re at the top of your religious game, only to find out later that you had missed God the whole time? Knowing God's words, but never knowing his voice? Saul's conversion experience set the stage for his entire life. He instantly went from Saul, the persecutor of Christians, to Paul, the apostle. He had met Jesus and would not soon forget the Lord’s voice. The beauty was that because he had heard the voice once, he would recognize a familiar voice when he would hear God again. 

This voice is what would enable Paul to know how to live out the life God had called him to. Paul needed more than just the Scriptures to know God's will. He relied on God's voice to speak to him about where to travel, what to say, and how to tend his heart. 

The truth is we all need to hear the voice of God. His thoughts on who we are and what we do are as invaluable as heaven itself. But can I recognize God's voice? Do I allow myself to trust what I believe to be God's opinion on my life? 

Most of us would agree we want this type of communication with God. However, most of us would also admit we have a hard time when we think we hear him speaking. 

If you have a willing heart, the kind of heart that is humbly open to the Father's voice, I offer these suggestions for getting to know the voice of God: 

1) Remember a time God has spoken to you in the past. Anyone who has said "yes" to Jesus for salvation has heard his voice. Like Paul, we have heard a call, even if it didn't knock us on the ground. Reflect on what it felt like when that voice called to you the first time.

2) Ask God to speak to you and then listen. Here's a quick exercise that I sometimes do. Close your eyes and picture Jesus. Look into his eyes, and then ask him if he has anything he wants to tell you. Then watch and listen. If a thought or picture pops in your mind the instant you ask God for a word, you can generally trust that it's him. You have just asked for bread, and God won't give you a stone. 

3) See if peace accompanies the word you hear. Whenever I think I’ve heard the Lord speak to me, I take a minute and hold the word out before Him. If I feel His peace settle on it, I can trust it. If guilt, worry, or fear feels attached to what I just heard, I can assume that it wasn't Him. If something you hear is defined by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, you can rest assured that the Spirit has come close. 

4) Act on words that require obedience. This can be the most difficult part about hearing God. At times, God will ask us to step out in faith. We should follow his lead. I have a friend who says that if you ever feel like God has gone silent, remember what the last thing was he asked you to do, and make sure you do it. Obedience invites more communication. It says to the Father, "I believe your words are trustworthy." 

God is looking for friends who will allow themselves to be forever changed by His voice. Even now, God is speaking. What do you hear Him saying?